Jean merder



Original Filed Dec. 16, 1.932

ATTORNEY Reucd Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original No. 2,017,419, dated October l5, 1935; 8erial No. 7.827, December 16, 1932. Applicatiamina-reissue November;

1936 Serial No.

inne. n1 France Decembeso, i931 1o muuu. (cl. 267-35) The prent invention relates to a cushioning device applicable to suspension devices (or automobiles or other vehicles.' landing gears for aircraft, bullets, percusion trames. shaking appas ratos and generally to every device in which'it is desirable to interpose a yielding element between two members adapted tomnve relatively to each other. Thiscushioningdevlceisofthe typein which a iluid under presure is contained in a Il receptacle or container which is subject to deformation during the relative displacements of the two said members between which said container is interposed.

One object of the invention is in provide a s cushioning device of the above mentioned type showing said two members to be moved on a large extent with relation toeach other for a relatively small diameter of said cushioning device.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a cushioning device of -the above mentioned type which is formed ot a plurality-of superimposed compartments communicating with one another and avoidmg between sa'id ents the prejudicial Joints causing generally' leakage oi' the iluid contained in said compartments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cushioning deviceoi' the above mentioned ispo whichiseiiectiveinuseandsimple inthestruco ture. I

Anembodiment of the cushioning device accordingtotheinventionisshominsectional view,onthcFig. Iandinperspeciveviewon the s Betweenthetwoelements I and 2 whose relative displacements are to be damped ismounted aiiexibleoutercasinglconsistingofindianlbherorlikematerial. This casing, atleast when in the idle podtion and'before Itis putin piace.

o hasashaperepresentedpreferahlybyasuriaccof revolution about the axis X-X. The generatrixa-b'oi'thissuriaccofrevolutionconslsts oi'aeurvehavingsuccessiveconvexportions 2l and concave-portions 2i. Thiasurfaceoirevo- 5 lutionisboimdedatitsendsbytwobeadededges landihaving optlonallythexame diameter and made inextensibie by the use ci inextensible ringslorlikemountings. Horeoventbcbottom ofeaciiconcaveportionllisalsomadeinextenn siblehyanintermediatemountmg Mouches.. heavycordorasteelwire.lncomparisonwith casingstormed only byaconvex shaped member. the casing oi the present'invention affords agreater amplitude of motion ioranouter diam- 5 eterDwhichislessthnnthediameterofasingle convex member. shown in the dotted lines 21, which would serve the same purpose. In comparison with separate superimposed elements, the casing of the present invention. which is made of one piece of rubber or like material, 5 is o! a simpler structure and has a greater ilexibility.

The casing I isreinforced by a stiiiening which consistsoiatissuemade oicordwhichis crossed but not woven of the kind in current use for the construction o! the usual pneumatic tyres for vehicles. Fig. 2 shows two sexies of cords 26 and 28 which cross each other and which are embedded in the india rubber of the casing. The cerdsotthetissueareheldupontheringsls and 6' as in the usual pneumatic types. The

casing2maybeuidtightbyitself,oritmay bemadeiluidtis'hthyinseriinginsaidcasing an extensible inner chamber 1.

Air or another geseousorliquid fluid required for inating the casing I is supplied through tbetube8,theinitlalpresureinthecasing8 being regulated by hander automatically.

-Thecasinglissecuredtotheelementsland means'of thewirededgesland 5. VThe edgelisheldbetweentheelement I anda plateiwhichissecuredtosaidelementbybolts Illorthelike; Thewirededgeiisheldina element 2. guidewaya 2l and 30 Ilareformedineachlnnerplateland II and adaptedtocontain thebeadededgesiandi of the casing I.

Thecasinglmaybeconnectedtoachamber I2 bya pesage having a 'cross section oi suchsizeastoaiiordtheproperdampeningorall oscillating movement. The circulation of iiuid o iromthecasingltothechamber I2. orinversely. may be regulated for instance by a calibrated oriiice Il formed in a valve I5 urged upon its seating I6 by a calibrated spring I1. The chamber i2 isprovided at Il with a. valve or like 5 nlling device.

When the two elements i and 2 approach each other in an abrupt manner. as soon as'the duid inthecasingibecomescompressedtoadegree corresponding to the allowable maximum. the valve I5 opens. thus compressing the spring I1 and the iluid will freely escape into the cham ber Il.

In the case oi' relatively slow motion of the elements I and 2, or oi' motion having a small u amplitude. the valve i6 remains upon its seating and the compressed fluid circulates through the calibrated orifice il in order to assume the desired dampening.

The dampening can also be obtained by placing in the casing I a piece of india rubber sponge 22 or like porous substance, which by reason of its nature will flatten the air or other elastic duid in its recesses according as the pressure varies.

What is claimed is:

1. A cushioning device between two members whose relative displacements are to be damped comprising a substantially tubular deformable casing of flexible material bounded at its ends by two rounded beaded edges, at each end of said casing an inner plate, means for securing said inner plate to said corresponding member. and an annular external guldeway of rounded section extending in the adjacent faces of each inner plate and of the corresponding member and having walls diverging from the adjacent surfaces of said plate and member at the inner end of said guideway to the free edges of said guideway and adapted to guide said beaded edges of said casing.

2. In a vehicle having in combination a body, running gear. and a pneumatic spring comprising a flexible fluid container between said body and said wheels serving as the sole supporting and dampening means between said wheel and body, said flexible container having a pair of enlarged radially extensible portions and a restricted radially inextenslble portion between said extensible portions. said extensible portions having a cross-sectional contour comprising a substantial arc 'of a circle, the walls of said uid container being reinforced to prevent longitudinal extensibility thereof. 'whereby the volumetric capacity of said container decreases upon axial compression or axial'elongation thereof from an intermediate position, whereby the rate oi said spring increases upon axial compression'and a nubbing action takes place upon axial elonga- 3. Afsuspension for vehicles and the like comprising a exible pneumatic cushioning device adapted to be connected between the body and wheels of a vehicle, said pneumatic cushioning device having. a bulbous portion adapted to be compressed and elongated in absorbing road shocks, said devicehaving embedded therein from end to end inextensible cords, so as to have an increaseinrateon itsrecoilstrokaandacurved abutment plate engageable with said bulbous portion so that the device will also have an increase in rate on its compression stroke.

4.a suspension for vehicles and the like. comprisinga pneumatic cushioning device having its opposite ends'xed, respectively. to the chassis and a wheel of said vehicle, said pneumatic cushionlng device comprising a exible container having convex radially expansible portions and a constricted non-expansible portion between said expansible portions, whereby the total volumetric capacity oi' said dexible container decreases from an intermediate value when said container is compressed or elongated. a reservoir. a conduit connecting the interior of said reservoir with the interior of said cushioning device and means in said conduit for permitting a greater ilow in one direction than in the other.

5. A cushioning device adapted to be connected between two elements whose relative displacements are to be damped. comprising a flexible outer casing which, when in idle position, has a shape represented by a surface oi' revolution, the generatrlx of said surface of revolution having successive arcuate convex portions and a concave portion intermediate said convex portions, said flexible casing having inextensible ends and inextensible means for restricting said concave portion to substantially the same diameter as that of said ends, whereby said casing affords a greater amplitude of relative movement between the ends thereof for a given outer diameter, as compared to the relative movement of a single convex casing of the same diameter. the relative height and diameter of the various portions of said casing being such that said arcuate convex portions will remain in circular form but of varying radii between the inextensible ends and said restricted concave portion during substantially full movement oi said casing.

6. A cushioning device adapted to be connected between two elements whose relative dispiacements are to be damped, comprising a flexible outer casing which, when in idle position, has a shape represented by a surface of revolution, the generatrix of said surface oi revolution having successive arcuate convex portions and a concave portion intermediate said convex portions. said flexible casing having inextensible ends and inextensible means for restricting said concave portion to substantially the same diameter as that of said ends, whereby said casing affords a greater amplitude of relative movement between the ends thereof for a given outer diameter as compared to the relative movement of a single convex casing of the same diameter. the relative height and diameter of the various portions of said casing being such that said arcuate convex portions will remain in circular form but of varying radii between the inextenslble ends and said restricted` concave portion during substantially full movement of said casing. said casing being reinforced with cords inclined in opposite directions obliquely with respect to the axis of said casing to. restrict radial expansion thereof without undue tension and excessive local fiexure of said cords.

'1. Acushioningdeviccadaptcdtobe connected between two elements whose relative displacements are to be damped. comprising a exible outer casing which, when in idle position. has a shape represented by a surface of revolution, the generatrix of said surface of revolution having successive arcuate convex portions and a concave portion intermediate said convex portions. said flexible casing having inextensible ends and inextensible means for restricting said concave portion to substantially the same diameter as that of said ends, whereby said casing affords a greater amplitude of relative movement between the ends thereof for a given outer diameter. as compared to the relative movement of a single convex casing. of the same diameter, the relative height and diameter of the various portions of said casing being such that said arcuate convex portions will remain in circular form but of varying radii between the inextensible ends and said restricted concave portion during substantially full movement o! said casing. the walls of said pneumatic cushioning device being formed of a plurality of plies of rubberized fabric having parallelcordsdisposedobliquelytcthcaxisof said tubular device and obliquely to each other. whereby localized flexing of the cords is substantially reduced and the motion of said device causes relative angular t between the cords of the different plies and substantially only relative longitudinal movement between the cords of the same ply.

8. A pneumatic suspension system for vehicles. said system comprising a longitudinally inextensibly reinforced flexible pneumatic cushion, and a reservoir in communication therewith, said cushion being positioned between, and having opposed ends attached to, the frame or body of the vehicle and the running gear, respectively thereof, to permit relative movement therebetween as the cushion is contracted or elongated, said cushion being so shaped that it has a lower rate in an intermediate region of its range of movement than it has at the extremities thereof.

9. A pneumatic vehicle suspension device comprising a deforable unitary casing having annular cross-section throughout and having an intermediate radially inextensible constricted portion and convex portions extending axially on either side of said constricted portion and terminating in ends of diameters less than the normal outside diameter of said convex portions, means for attaching said ends to parts of the vehicle to permit substantially uniform exing of the convex portions between the ends thereof and said constricted portion, the wall of said casing having a plurality of layers of reeniorcing cords extending from end to end thereof and inclined at an angle to the axis of said casing, the cords of one of said layers being inclined opposite to the cords of another of said layers, the inclination of the reenlorcing cords in each layer relative to the axis ot the casing and to the cords of the other layer being such as to aiord a casing wall structure which is substantially inextensible in an axial direction.

10. A pneumatic vehicle suspension device comprising a. deformable unitary casing adapted to hold a gas under pressure and ior supporting a load between the axial extremities thereof, said casing having annular cross-sections throughout and having an intermediate radially inextenslble portion and arcuate convex portions extending axially on either side of said intermediate portion, terminating in circumferentially inextensible ends having diameters less than the maximum outside diameter of said convex portions, means for attaching said ends to parts oi' said vehicle to permit substantially uniform arcuate iiexing and substantially equal change of cross-sectional contour of each of the convex arcuate portions between the respective ends thereof, and the wall of said casing having a plurality 'of layers of reenforcing cords extending from end to end thereof between said inextensible ends, the cords ot one of said layers being inclined oppositely to the cords oi another of said, layers and the cords of each layer being inclined at such an angle to the axis of said casing, that a casing wall structure is formed which is substantially inextensible in an axial direction.

` JEAN MERCIER.

CERTIFIQATE OF CORRECTION. Reissue No. 20,887. October 18, 1958.

JEAN MERCIER.

It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to the inventor, said "Mercier", Whereas aid patent should have been issued to "The Firestone Tire 8: Rubber Company, of Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio", as assignee by mesne vassignments of the entire interest therein, as shown bythe record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record'of the caee inthe Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of October, A. D. IN2,

Henry Van Arsdale, (Beal) Acting Commissioner 0T Patents. 

